SAN ANTONIO – As Fiesta celebrations ramp up across San Antonio, one local influencer is encouraging younger people to step up and volunteer — saying the city’s biggest traditions depend on it.
Gabriela Reyes recently shared a video on her TikTok and Instagram accounts showing herself making flowers for A Night In Old San Antonio (NIOSA), one of Fiesta’s biggest volunteer-driven events. This initiative emphasizes community involvement and the preservation of local traditions.
“This is my second time doing this,” Reyes said, expressing her commitment to the annual celebration.
At just 26 years old, Reyes noted that she was by far the youngest person in the room while volunteering. “Everyone in the room is most likely retired. They are in their 50s and 70s,” Reyes said. “I was definitely the youngest person there by far.” Her observation highlights a trend that younger generations may not be as involved in community service as their older counterparts.
This unique position motivated Reyes even more to engage with the event. “I’m very big on traditions, and I think that Fiesta is such a beautiful thing,” she said. “It’s important for me to not let those things die out.”
Reyes’ message to younger generations is straightforward: “It would be to try something new,” she urged. “I went by myself.” This encouragement to step outside of comfort zones is vital for fostering community spirit among younger residents.
Following her social media posts about volunteering, Reyes was surprised by the number of people who reached out. “There were people commenting that they’ve lived here forever and had no idea that there were volunteer opportunities,” she recalled. This response indicates a gap in awareness regarding local volunteer efforts.
Seeing the interest from fellow community members made Reyes optimistic. “That made me happy just seeing how many people there are that do want to help and are interested in learning,” she said, underscoring the importance of community engagement in preserving cherished traditions.
Reyes emphasized that many individuals may not realize the amount of volunteer work that goes into Fiesta events like NIOSA. “Fiesta is such a big thing that relies on so many people in different aspects,” she explained. “So not just the flowers, but making the food, working the booths — so many things play into that, and without community, it’s not going to happen.”
For those interested in volunteering, Fiesta organizers often begin recruiting volunteers months before events begin. While all volunteer opportunities to make flowers for this year’s event have concluded, NIOSA has already set dates for next year’s flower-making sessions. Interested individuals can contact the NIOSA volunteer line at 210-226-5188 for more details.
